Joe Root Nears Cricketing History as He Surpasses Ricky Ponting in Test Runs

One man stands between Joe Root and a historic milestone in cricket. With an impressive innings of 150 runs overnight, the England batter has become the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, trailing only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar of India.

On day three of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Root’s masterful batting elevated England to a commanding position. The hosts finished the day at 7 for 544, leading by 186 runs. Root’s contribution took his career total to an outstanding 13,409 runs, a figure that puts him just behind Tendulkar’s record of 15,921.

Ricky Ponting, a cricketing great himself and an observer from the commentary box, noted the significance of Root’s achievement. “Just one more to go,” Ponting said, acknowledging that Root is on the cusp of overtaking him as well. He expressed confidence in Root’s ability to become the all-time leading scorer in Test cricket, citing the batter’s recent form and career trajectory. “The way his career has gone over the last five years, there’s absolutely no reason why not,” Ponting said, adding that the crowd had witnessed “a moment in history.”

Root’s rise in the rankings has come against India, the team against whom he has scored many of his runs. His 34th Test century was a highlight of the day, and as he crossed Ponting’s mark, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd cheered loudly, showing their admiration for the English star.

England vice-captain Ollie Pope commented on Root’s focus and humility. “He’s not a big one for landmarks, but I think that’s a pretty cool one,” Pope said. “He knew what the number was he needed, but he’s not a guy who wants to shout about it. The hunger he has, I wouldn’t be surprised if he chased him [Tendulkar] down.”

As Root continued his exceptional day, he appeared destined for more personal milestones. However, he was eventually dismissed for 150, caught off Ravindra Jadeja by substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel. Despite his dismissal, the cheers and chants of “Rooooot” echoed as he headed to the pavilion, having helped England take a dominant grip on the match, which they hope to win to level the series at 2–2.